Vehicle Registration in West Bengal

A Vehicle can only be driven or allowed to be driven in public places after its Registration by any Registering Authority as under the provisions of Sec 39 of M.V. Act,1988. Vehicle Registration involves the recording of a motor vehicle in the official records after due verification. Vehicle Registration is mandatory under the law and is essential to prove the ownership of a vehicle.

Points to remember:

• No person can drive a motor vehicle, which is not registered with the RA.

• No owner of a motor vehicle can allow or permit the use of unregistered vehicle.

• No dealer of vehicle can deliver the unregistered motor vehicle to the purchaser. He can only deliver the vehicles which are temporarily /permanently registered.

• An application for Registration of a motor vehicle shall be made in Form 20 to the Registering Authority within a period of seven days from the date of taking delivery of such vehicle.

• The vehicle is to be registered at the Registering Authority (RTO) in whose jurisdiction( District / SubDivision) the owner resides or has a place of business where the vehicle is normally kept.

• A distinguishing mark referred to as Registration Mark will be assigned to your vehicle by the Registering Authority for display thereon, consisting of one of the groups of such of those letters and followed by such letters and figures as are allotted to the State by the Central Government.{WB followed by Two digit RA Code and then Alfa- Numerical)

• West Bengal has already implemented the scheme of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP). Currently HSRP is being affixed upon new vehicles which have been registered on or after 17th January 2011 from all the RTOs. Implementation on Old vehicles has also been started in some of the RTOs including PVD, Kolkata.

Registering Authorities in Kolkata and other Districts of West Bengal

The Registering Authority shall be (1) for Kolkata, the Director, Public Vehicles Department, Kolkata (2) elsewhere in the State, the District Magistrates .However, the Registering Authority may delegate its power, by order in writing to any officer not below the rank of Motor Vehicles Inspectors having jurisdiction.

Need for Registering a Vehicle in West Bengal

To register a new, private, non-commercial vehicle, application in the prescribed form (Form No 20) to the Registering Authority of the area of residence together with the sale certificate issued by the vehicle dealer, the road-worthiness certificate issued by the manufacturer, a valid vehicle insurance policy, temporary registration, if any, proof of address, copy of PAN Card or form 60/61 as applicable, documents as proof of citizenship, Customs clearance certificate in the case of imported vehicle (and proof of legal presence in India in addition to proof of residence in case of foreigners) are to be submitted. In addition, either one-time or life-time tax and the required registration fee also to be deposited.

The vehicle will be physically inspected by the Inspecting Authority and a unique Registration Mark assigned to the vehicle for display there on. Besides, Offer-Letter is required in cases of registrations of commercial passenger vehicles.

What is Temporary Registration ? What is the procedure of Temporary registration of vehicle in West Bengal?

When a purchaser of a new vehicle wants to take his vehicle to the jurisdiction of another registering authority, in that case temporary registration can be allowed having validity of one month as per provision of section 43 of M.V.Act, 1988. A Temporary Certificate of registration under section 43 of the Act shall be issued by the registering authority of the area in which it is applied for. An application for Temporary registration shall be in prescribed Form 20. The authority granting a Temporary Certificate of registration shall assign a temporary registration mark to the vehicle and the owner shall cause the said mark to be affixed to the front and rear of the Motor vehicle.

What is the validity of the Registration Certificate in West Bengal?

In case of non transport vehicles like two wheelers and cars the registration certificate is valid for 15 years from date of first registration. And it is renewed after every five subsequent years thereafter. In case of transport vehicles like goods and passenger carriers the registration certificate is valid till certificate of fitness if valid. Generally for Transport Vehicles, CF is valid for Two Years initially and thereafter CF is to be done on an yearly basis.

What is the Renewal of Registration of private (non-transport) vehicles in West Bengal?

Not before than Sixty days before the expiry of validity of the Registration , the registered owner is required to apply to get the registration of his vehicle renewed and following documents are required:

• Application in form 25.

• Registration certificate in original.

• Proof for the payment of up-to-date road tax.

• Copies of insurance certificate.

• Pollution under control certificate.

The vehicle is to be brought to the local office for inspection of its road worthiness and if the vehicle is found to be fit for use on the roads, the renewal of registration is allowed for a period of five years at a time.

What is the procedure for recording change of address of motor vehicles ?

If a registered owner of a vehicle shifts his address as recorded in the Registration Certificate, he must apply for recording of the new address, after obtaining a N.O.C in Form 28 from the previous registering authority. In cases where such change of address is from one state to another, then the registration number will have to be changed to a local registration number also. The documents required are as under:

• Registration Certificate in original.

• Form 28 (NOC in duplicate).

• Form 20.

• Copy of address proof (original to be produced).

• Copies of valid insurance/pollution under control certificate.

• Fitness certificate, in case of transport vehicles.

• Tax Token in original.

• Garage Address proof (in case of transport vehicle).

• N.O.C. from financier, where applicable.

Note: Such registrations of vehicle are subject to clearance from National Crime Record Bureau (regarding pendency of any alleged offence on road etc).

What is the procedure for issue of duplicate registration certificate ?

Any registered owner can apply for a duplicate registration certificate in cases where the original one is either, lost, damaged or mutilated. Following documents needed:

• Application in form 26 (in duplicate and with the endorsement from the financier, if hypothecated).

• Original copy of the F.I.R.

• Copies of valid insurance policy/pollution under control certificate/tax token.

• NOC from traffic police & Enforcement wing of Transport Department.

• Affidavit in support of the application.

How the transfer of ownership of a vehicle can be done?

The transfer of ownership of a vehicle is to be applied in the concerned motor vehicle office where the vehicle is registered with and the following documents are to be submitted:-

• Registration Certificate in original.

• Form no.29 duly filled.

• Form no.30 duly filled.

• Copy of valid insurance certificate (original to be shown).

• Copy of address proof of buyer (original to be shown).

• Valid Pollution under Control Certificate.

• Copy of PAN card the purchaser.

• Prescribed fee.

• Tax token.

• Duly filled Form 34 and/or Form 35 in case of hypothecated cases.

• Permits surrender slip from S.T.A./R.T.A. (For commercial vehicles).

• Offer Letter in the name of the buyer (For commercial vehicles).

• Valid Fitness certificate (For commercial vehicles).

(NB: Any Transfer of Right of the vehicle by way of Sale or otherwise should be duly processed and Transfer of ownership recorded / registered with the RA immediately. Otherwise the previous owner often gets entangled in legal proceedings for any subsequent offence on road etc by the vehicle)

Transfer of ownership in case of death of the registered owner:

In such case the application is to be made by the legal heir of the vehicle with the following set of documents.

• Registration certificate in original.

• Form 31 duly filled along with NOC from financier wherever applicable.

• Original copy of death certificate of the registered owner along with attested copy.

• Succession Certificate, if any.

• Certificate from local MP, MLA or senior government officers to that effect.

• Affidavit by the applicant to this effect and also from all other legal heirs who may wish to relinquish their right in favour of the applicant.

• Copy of address proof of Applicant.

• Copies of valid PUCC/lnsurance Certificate/PAN Card/Tax Token/Certificate of Fitness.

• Prescribed fee.

• Permits surrender slip issued by STA branch (For commercial vehicles).

• Offer Letter in the_ name of the heir (For commercial vehicles).

• Any other document that may be required by the Registering Authority.

How can the hypothecation be endorsed or deleted ?

If a vehicle is purchased on loan from a financier the same should be endorsed in the registration certificate. Similarly when the loan is repaid in full the fact of termination of hypothecation is also required to be endorsed. The following documents are required for the same:

• Registration certificate in original.

• Form no.34 duly filled (for endorsement of Hypothecation).

• Form no. 35 duly filled (for deletion of Hypothecation) in duplicate.

• A certificate from financier for having retained full dues from the financier (for deletion case only)

• Copies of valid insurance/pollution under control certificate/tax token.